项目介绍

2025年4月19日

In human society, communication is an effective mechanism for coordinating the behaviors of humans. In the field of deep multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), agents can also improve the overall learning performance and achieve their objectives by communication. MARL with communication research learns to solve multi-agent tasks (such as navigation, traffic, and video games), by communicating and sharing information.

Your job

In this project, we focus on interpretability of the communication in MARL algorithms. We aim to bring together causality and multi-agent reinforcement learning, using causal methods to understand the effects of communication on MARL agents’ (learning) behaviors. This could cover better interpreting the potential causal relations between communication strategies and the learning performance, or using causal representation learning for developing more effective and interpretable MARL with communication algorithms.

As a PhD candidate, you will primarily perform research within the scope of the project culminating in a successful dissertation, as well as writing academic articles and presenting your work on international AI and machine learning conferences.

This position offers you rich development opportunities. You will be part of the Hybrid Intelligence consortium external link, a network of excellence of universities and institutes in the Netherlands focused on the combination of human and machine intelligence. You will then have the chance to participate in international summer schools, conferences and workshops to broaden your research skills and network. In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to teaching and supervising AI-related thesis projects at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels (10-15% of your time).

This project is funded by Hybrid Intelligence gravity project external link. This particular project is a collaboration between the Intelligent Systems Lab external link at Utrecht University and the Amsterdam Machine Learning Lab external link at University of Amsterdam. You will be part of the Intelligent Systems group at Utrecht University, and will work under the supervision of Dr Shihan Wang (daily supervisor), Dr Sara Magliacane (co-supervisor) and Professor Mehdi Dastani (promotor).

Your qualities

• A MSc in Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence;
• a strong background in Machine Learning;
• demonstrable experience with/knowledge of Reinforcement Learning and/or Causal Inference;
• knowledge of Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning would be a plus, but not necessary;
• a strong interest in the topic and open to communicate with others in the group and the Hybrid Intelligence consortium, as collaboration and knowledge exchange are key to the success of this PhD position.

We aim to create hybrid intelligence for everyone, see also our Diversity Statement. To do this, we need an inclusive and diverse team of researchers. We especially encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply for this job. 

Our offer

• a position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment external link laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development external link, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities external link, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University external link.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University external link, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes external link. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow external link.

Working at the Faculty of Science external link means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty external link has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we external link work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn external link and discover how you can become part of our community.

The Department of Information and Computing Sciences external link (ICS) is nationally and internationally known for its research in computer science and information science. The department provides and contributes to the Bachelor’s programmes in Computer Science, Information Science, and Artificial Intelligence and a number of research Master’s programmes in these fields. It employs over 200 people, working in four divisions: Algorithms, AI & Data Science, Software and Interaction. The atmosphere is collegial and informal.

The Intelligent Systems group aims to study intelligent systems in both fundamental and application-oriented ways, with a special focus on intelligent (multi-)agent systems. We also provide the opportunity to have broad collaborations within the Hybrid Intelligence project and with other groups in our department, as well as to conduct multidisciplinary research with researchers in Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Health sciences and Geosciences.

More information

For more information, please contact Dr Shihan Wang external link at s.wang2@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home external link for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the ‘apply now’ button. Please enclose:

• your motivation letter, in which you describe how your research experience and interests fit with the goals of this PhD position;
• your curriculum vitae;
• up-to-date transcripts of the grades of all your courses;
• the names, affiliations and email addresses of at least two referees we may contact at a later stage of the recruitment process;
• a copy of your Master’s thesis if available, otherwise a paper that you are most proud of.

The position is available immediately, with the latest possible start date in 2025.

Note that this position is one of several job openings within the Hybrid Intelligence Centre (see the HI page with job openings external link). You can apply to more than just this one. If you do so, please inform the Hybrid Intelligence Centre’s Project Manager via email at projectmanager.at.HI@gmail.com of the projects you are applying to.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them external link
#FundamentalConnection

The application deadline is 20 May 2025.